Post on 06-Apr-2018
THE WEST INDIES FEDERATION (1958-1962)
The West Indies Federation came into being on 3 January 1958.
The West Indies Federation was a political federation of ten territories in the Anglophone West Indies. It comprised of ten territories namely, Jamaica, Antigua, Barbados, Trinidad and Tobago, Grenada, Montserrat, St. Kitts/Nevis/Anguilla, Dominica, St. Lucia and St. Vincent with British Guiana and British Honduras as associated territories.
The Federal Parliament was bi-cameral
consisting of an elected House of
Representatives and a nominated Senate.
Queen Elizabeth II was the Head of State
and her representative to the Crown was
Governor General, 1st Baron Hailes.
The only Prime Minister of the Federal
period was Sir Grantley Adams of Barbados.
In September 1961, Jamaica voted for
secession from the Federation by way of
a referendum. Trinidad and Tobago soon
followed and The West Indies Federation
was subsequently dissolved by the
West Indies (Dissolution and Interim
Commissioner) Order-in-Council
(S.I.No.1084, 1962) on 29 May 1962.
available records of the West Indies Federation (1958-1962). The Centre will enhance the knowledge of those in the participating territories of the Federation and the wider Caribbean by providing primary
THE FEDERAL FLAG
The official flag of the West Indies Federation (1958-
1962) is irreplaceable. The symbols of the flag were intended to be representative of all ten territories that made up the Federation. The final design for the Federal Flag was favoured and agreed upon because “its presentation of the elements of sea and sun [was] appropriate to the West Indies”.
THE W.I. FEDERAL ARCHIVES CENTRE
Description:
A blue background, with four white wavy
bars, the top pair of bars being parallel
and lower pair also parallel; the flag
to have an orange sun in the centre.(FWI-FS-SFC-4)
al Archives Centre is to acquire, preserve and make available re-
cords of the West Indies Federation (1958-1962). The Centre will en-
hance the knowledge of those in the participating territories of the Fed-
al Archives Cen-tre is to acquire, preserve and make available records of the West Indies Federation (1958-1962). The Centre will enhance the knowledge of those
COAT-OF-ARMS
The heraldic description of the Coat-of-Arms of The West
Indies Federation as given to the Court of St. James’s on 1st August 1957 read,
“For Arms: Or a Pile Gules thereon another Argenta Bordure Barrywavy
of the last and Azure and Berzanty on a Chief also Gules a Lion passant guardant gold: And upon a representation of Our Royal Helmet mantled Gules doubled Argent, for the Crest: On a Wreath Argent Sable Azure or Vert and Gules Adexter Cubit Arm sunburnt proper holding erect a Torch or enflamed Gules: And for the Supporters: On either side a Brown Pelican wings elevated and addorsed Gold: together with the motto ‘To dwell together in unity’…
THE W.I. FEDERAL ARCHIVES CENTRE
al Archives Centre is to acquire, preserve and make available re-
cords of the West Indies Federation (1958-1962). The Centre will en-
hance the knowledge of those in the participating territories of the Fed-
W.I. Federal Archives Centre is to acquire, preserve and make available records of the West Indies Federation (1958-1962). The Cen-tre will enhance the knowledge of those in the participating territo
Standing – left to right:
Hon. Victor Vaughan, Minister without Portfolio;
Hon. Allan Byfield, Minister without Portfolio; Hon. James
Liburd, Parliamentary Secretary in the Ministry of Finance;
Fred Phillips, Cabinet Secretary; Hon. Novelle Richards,
Minister without Portfolio; Hon. James L. Charles, Minister
without Portfolio.
Seated – left to right: Hon. Frank Ricketts, Minister of
Agriculture; Hon. Mrs. Phyllis Allfrey, Minister of Social
Services; Hon. Robert L. Bradshaw, Minister of Finance;
Hon. Sir Grantley Adams, Prime Minister; Hon. Carl La
Corbiniere, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Trade;
Hon. Andrew Rose, Minister of Communication and Works.
THE FEDERAL CABINET
In 1960, constitutional reform led to the
establishment of a Federal Cabinet chaired
by the Prime Minister, Sir Grantley Adams.
The College gained
university status in
April 1962 just as
the Federation was
collapsing. It continues
to fulfil its role as an
exceptional regional
body as The University
of the West Indies.
THE UNIVERSITY COLLEGE OF THE WEST INDIES (UCWI)
The University College of the West
Indies (UCWI), established in 1948,
played a major role in The West
Indies Federation as a chief source of trained manpower and expertise. The University College
produced several outstanding West
Indian citizens and served as a symbol
of West Indian hopes for regional unity.
The mandate of the W.I. Fed-eral Archives Centre is to acquire, preserve and make available records of the West Indies Federation (1958-1962). The Centre will en-
W.I. Federal Archives Centre is to acquire, preserve and make available records of the West Indies Federation (1958-1962). The Cen-tre will enhance the knowledge of those in the participating territo
Towards this end, the British West Indies Airways
(BWIA), a subsidiary of the British Overseas
Airways Corporation Associated Companies
Limited (BOAC) became a quasi-national carrier to
the West Indies.
The Canadian Government, which served as a vital
source of support to the Federal Government,
further fulfilled the need for inter-island
transport services by giving two gift-ships, namely
the Federal Maple and the Federal Palm in 1961. (Biennial Report of the Federal Government 1958 - 1959)
WEST INDIES TRANSPORT
The ability to move freely around the West Indies was a prime concern of the Federal
Government. It was felt that the freedom of movement of goods and people would serve as the
‘glue’ that would hold the Federal territories together. It was
therefore imperative to establish inter-island transport services.
MISSION STATEMENT
The mandate of the W.I. Federal Archives Centre is to acquire,
preserve and make available records of the West Indies Federation (1958-1962). The Centre will enhance the knowledge of those in the participating territories of the Federation, the wider Caribbean and the international community by providing primary sources of information on the Federal Government and its demise. The Centre will also serve as a repository of archives from Caribbean integration movements, associations, organisations and business entities. Records will be stored, conserved and described in compliance with international archival standards and access will be provided wherever possible to users and potential users.
THE W.I. FEDERAL ARCHIVES CENTRE
The mandate of the W.I. Federal Archives Centre is to acquire, preserve and make available records of the West Indies Federation (1958-1962). The Centre will enhance the knowledge of those in the participating
The mandate of the W.I. Federal Archives Centre is to acquire, preserve and make available records of the West Indies Federation (1958-1962). The Centre will enhance the knowledge of those in the participating territories of the Federation and the wider Caribbean by providing primary sources of information on the Federal Government and its demise. The
SCOPE AND CONTENT
The records of The West Indies Federation (1958 – 1962),
now referred to as the Federal Archives, compose of administrative files, original agreements, oath books, ledgers, registers, drawings, architectural plans, newspaper clippings, press releases, savingrams, reports, records of judgments, statistical data, card indexes, reel-to-reel magnetic tapes, black-and-white photographs, maps, architectural plans, artifacts in the form of metal seals, original flags, coat-of-arms and a mahogany plaque.
This unique body of records can only be found at the W.I. Federal Archives Centre and are priceless.
preserve and make available records of the West Indies Federation (1958-1962). The Centre will enhance the knowledge of those in the participating